Watch SpaceX’s Grasshopper rocket triple its leap height

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One of SpaceX’s key goals is to create a reusable rocket system (a Vertical Takeoff Vertical Landing (VTVL) vehicle) that will be used for launches and then return rather than burning up in the Earth’s atmosphere. That rocket is known as the Grasshopper, and it has just managed to successfully triple the height it can leap while returning to land safely.

SpaceX has been carrying out test launches of the Grasshopper since September last year, with each launch seeing the 10-story-tall rocket leap a little bit higher. Each test sees the rocket launch, rise to a predetermined height, hover, and then descend to land back on the launch pad.

In September, Grasshopper performed a 2.5 meter leap. In November, that increased to 5.4 meters, then to 40 meters in December. On March 7 the height doubled again to 80.1 meters, but yesterday SpaceX tripled the height of the leap, which saw Grasshopper leap to 249.9 meters before hovering and performing a successful landing. You can see the impressive test in the video below:

The flight time was around 58 seconds and relied on a Falcon 9 rocket first stage tank along with a Merlin 1D engine. The legs it lands on include hydraulic dampers and the lower structure holding the rocket together is made of steel.

If SpaceX manages to perfect the Grasshopper VTVL vehicle, which it looks on course to do, it will lead to some major cost savings and in their words, “transform the space industry.”